RoadVitals

2005 Pontiac Grand Am Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Jun 11, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
12%
of 102 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Pontiac Grand Am submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 11, 2018

DURING STARTING OR REGULAR DRIVING, THE SECURITY LIGHT WILL COME ON. SOON AFTER, THE CAR MAY SHUT DOWN OR WILL NOT START AT THE NEXT IGNITION CYCLE. THIS IS DUE TO A WIDELY-KNOWN FAILED PASSLOCK OR VATS SYSTEM. IT IS NOT DUE TO USER ERROR, AND IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IF NOT FATAL AT THE WRONG TIME.

NHTSA ID
11101258
Incident
Jun 10, 2018
Mileage
116,500 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 19, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE IDLING ROUGHLY AND DECELERATING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE MISFIRED; HOWEVER, THE DIAGNOSIS WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFCATURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID
10897243
Incident
Aug 12, 2016
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 2, 2016

WILL NOT TURN OVER UNLESS YOU LEAVE THE KEY ON FOR 8 MINUTES-PASS LOCK ISSUE I AM TOLD AND IS QUITE PREVALENT.....WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL????

NHTSA ID
10872181
Incident
Jun 1, 2016
Mileage
80,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 2, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
10808071
Incident
Nov 27, 2015
Mileage
110,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jul 21, 2015
Fire reported

I'M NOT SURE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS, MEDIA COVERAGE MADE THE LOCAL ISSUES IN COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

NHTSA ID
10735533
Incident
Aug 15, 2013
Mileage
83,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Jan 30, 2015

WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE PEDAL STUCK AND DID NOT RETURN BACK UP. INSTEAD IT STAYED DOWN AS THOUGH IT WAS STILL BEING DEPRESSED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV. I HAD TO PHYSICALLY GRAB THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND PULL IT TOWARDS ME TO TRY AND RETURN IT BACK TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. THIS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND I HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE ACCELERATOR ASSEMBLY REPLACED, I CALLED GM ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE RECALL ON THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WAS FOR THE 03 GRAND AM MODELS, NOT THE 05 MODELS. I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE GM DECIDES THEY ARE BETTER OFF FINANCIALLY TO RECALL THE 05 MODELS? *TR

NHTSA ID
10680087
Incident
Oct 11, 2014
Mileage
117,880 mi
AirbagsEngine
Filed Nov 12, 2014
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ID
10654327
Incident
Apr 8, 2014
Mileage
111,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 19, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND SMOKE WAS EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. A PRIVATE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ID
10637600
Incident
Sep 19, 2014
Mileage
113,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed May 17, 2014

I HAD SEVERAL TIMES I WOULD BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND EVEN THE HIGHWAY IT HAS DIED ON ME. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET THE DOOR LOCKS COME UNLOCK THAT I KNEW THE CAR DIED. WHEN I AM DRIVING MY FLASHERS ON MY CAR CONTINUE TO MAKE A TICKING NOISE. WHEN I TRY TO START THE CAR SOMETIMES I HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS AND I HAD ALREADY HAD FUEL PUMP REPLACED. WHEN I START IT I HAVE TO WAIT FOR A SERVICE ENGINE SOON BEFORE I CAN START IT. SOMETIMES I BE DRIVING AND MY HEADLIGHTS WILL GO DIM AND I TURN IT UP AS FAR AND BRIGHT . IT STILL DON'T WORK. *JS

NHTSA ID
10592083
Incident
Mar 13, 2013
Mileage
97,500 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 4, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ID
10577310
Incident
Nov 12, 2013
Mileage
60,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 10, 2008

HAD TO REPLACE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET DUE TO GM DEXCOOL COOLANT CORRODING THE GASKET. IF NOT REPLACE ENGINE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10230537
Incident
Feb 27, 2008
Mileage
39,099 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 25, 2008

I HAVE A 2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM, AND EVER SINCE I GOT IT THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR AND THE HEADLIGHTS DIM, WHILE I ACCELERATE. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO THE GARAGE I BOUGHT IT FROM SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY NEVER FIXED IT. I AM STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. THE TOLD ME THERE MAY BE A SHORT IN THE WIRING AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO TEAR THE WHOLE THING APART TO FIND IT. ANOTHER CONCERN I HAVE IS I HAVE 70,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND I HAVE HAD TO PUT HEAD GASKETS AND LIFTERS ON THIS CAR. NO ONE CAN BELIEVE THAT HAPPENS WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. MY SISTER WORKS WITH A GIRL WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AT ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE. (SAME YEAR). *TR

NHTSA ID
10219123
Incident
Feb 6, 2008
Mileage
70,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .